Means of addressing an audience



W. DOBSON.

MEANS OF ADDRESSING AN AUDIENCE.

APPLlCATlON FILED OCT- 7, 1919.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM DOBS ON', OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

Application filed October 7, 1919. Serial No. 329,134.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DoBsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means of Addressing an Audience, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to a method of addressing an audience in person, and has more particular reference to the manner of making the delivery.

Ordinarily, one speaking at length on any subject either reads a prepared address, commits it to memory. or speaks externporaneously. Under different circumstances these methods are either undesirable or inadequate for the occasion; consequently I have aimed in this invention to simplify and facilitate the method of addressing an audience, especially at length.

My invention contemplates, generally stated, the use of certain apparatus by means of which an assistant remote from the speakers platform reads the prepared subj ect matter into a transmitter connected with an ear receiver worn by the speaker. The latter verbally redelivers directly to the audience the subject matter thus received, and communicates with his assistant as by means of a flash signal to regulate the speed, continuance, etc., of the reading.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates figuratively the manner of addressing an audience according to my invention.

Before entering into a detailed description of the apparatus shown herein, it should be noted that my invention contemplates delivering orally addresses of any kind whatsoever; for example, the address might be from a speakers platform or the stage, and for any occasion under which the subject matter is either lengthy, complex or technical, or interrupted as when describing cinematograph slides.

In the present case, referring to the drawing, a speakers platform is indicated by the reference character 1, and a room distant therefrom, by the character 2. In this room, or at a point beyond hearing distance from said platform is located suitable means for transmitting to a speaker on the platform any prepared subject matter. This means may be a transmitter 3 of any suitable construction, connected by wires at to an electric circuit including a receiver 5 adapted to be worn over either one or both ears of the speaker on the platform. An assistant in the room 2 reads the prepared subject matter into the transmitter 3 at the direction of the speaker. The speaker is in constant communication with his assistant through means of an electric signal, such as a buzzer or a flash light 6 as shown in the drawing, adapted to be operated by pressure of a button 7 carried by the speaker to indicate start, stop, faster, slower and similar instructions. Or an indicator of a kind adapted to impose a slight electric pulsation on the arm or hand of the assistant just sufficient to attract his attention, might be employed.

In the present illustration the assistant is seated before the transmitter 3 and reads the written or printed matter into the trans mitter as directed by the speaker. The latter orally redelivers such matter verbatim, directly to the audience. It will be seen that by the use of this method, the tedious preparation in memorizing and delivering an address of any kind is entirely obviated, and that no special skill or ability is required other than to make a proper and fitting delivery of the subject matter trans mitted to the speaker.

It it believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the principle and obj ect of my invention; and while I have illustrated somewhat diagrammatically the method of carrying it into effect, it should be understood that'the invention is in no way limited to the particular form or construction of the apparatus used, but that it is capable of being carried into effect by any means suitable for the purpose, without sistant at one station, an ear receiver adapted to be worn by the speaker who addresses the 10 audience at another station, a speech transmission line connecting said stations, and a. signaling line independent of the first line adapted to be operated by the speaker at the second station for directing the assistant. WILLIAM DOBSON. 

